bumblebee ball python terrified of me?

[Neal]

really? i was told/read that it should always be 80 minimum but to aim for 83-84

Well the reason he says that because it gives it more of a temperature gradient. If your cool side is 80ish and the warm is 90ish, then the middle is going to be about 85ish or something near. With the cool being higher the middle isn't as much of a middle as it could be, that's all.